Studies is best enjoyed with financial liberty, especially in the UK. Know more on How to Balance Work and Study as an International Student in the UK.
Moving to the UK as a foreign pupil may seem exciting at first, but as the initial excitement wears off, you rapidly discover that it’s a major juggling act. The cost of tuition is high. Rent is a serious matter. Additionally, everything from groceries to transportation depletes your finances more quickly than you might anticipate.
Naturally, the majority of us rely on part-time employment to make ends meet. The challenging thing, however, is how to maintain your grades while working 20 hours a week, traveling across the city, maintaining your sanity, and possibly even maintaining a social life.
It’s not simple. However, it is feasible.
I’ve been there. After a lengthy shift at the café, I’ve been half-awake when attending classes. During my lunch breaks, I have completed last-minute homework. And deadlines have caused me to cry more than once.
However, I also managed to make it work. This isn’t just another list of time management cliches. It’s frank counsel from a person who has experienced it and survived.
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How to Balance Work and Study as an International Student in the UK
Here are some practical tips for overseas students studying in the UK on juggling employment and school.
Recognize Your Legal Limits – And Commit to Them
First things first: if you have a Tier 4 (formerly Student Route) visa, you can only work 20 hours a week during the school year. Breach that rule and you’re jeopardizing your visa. And the UK home ministry doesn’t play, I promise you.
You can work full-time throughout the holidays, but before assuming it’s a break, make sure to check the academic calendar at your university. Additionally, keep in mind that volunteer work and unpaid internships are considered work hours.
Setting reasonable expectations early on is much easier when you are aware of your legal limitations. Avoid overcommitting and getting into problems.
Select the Appropriate Type of Work
When you’re a student, not all jobs are created equal.
You will be psychologically and physically exhausted by some jobs. Others will free up some of your energy for studying. Finding a profession that complements your academic life rather than the other way around is your aim.
The following are excellent choices for overseas students studying in the UK:
- positions at universities on campus (student ambassador, IT support, library assistant)
- Jobs in retail (stores frequently provide flexible shifts)
- Hospitality (restaurants, delivery services, and cafes)
- Tutoring (teaching a subject you are proficient at)
- Writing, graphic design, and translation are examples of freelance labor.
I personally found that part-time internet tutoring was the easiest to handle. The income is higher than minimum wage positions, and you get to choose your own hours.
Because it kind of does, plan your week as if your life depended on it.
Winging it doesn’t work, as I discovered the hard way.
Plan out your classes, study sessions, shifts, and due dates for assignments once a week. Make use of a planner, Google Calendar, or even a notebook. However, put it in writing.
Saying “yes” or “no” to extra shifts, meetings, or study sessions is made simpler when everything is in one location. You will become overbooked, overburdened, and perpetually behind if you don’t have a strategy.
Be sure to leave buffers. Life occurs. A bus may be late. You may be asked to stay an additional hour by your supervisor. A talk could go on for too long. Include that buffer in your timetable.
Make the Most of Your Study Time
Don’t believe that you’ll find time to study on your own. You will need to put up a fight.
For me, using targeted study techniques such as:
Pomodoro technique: 25 minutes of concentrated labor followed by a 5-minute break
Active recall (test yourself, don’t just go over your notes again)
Instead of cramming, spread out your study sessions across a few days.
Additionally, if you work evenings, don’t put off studying till the end of the day. You will have a fried brain. If at all possible, fit in study sessions before your shift, during your commute (if you don’t drive), or in between courses.
Even forty-five uninterrupted minutes a day adds up.
If You’re Having Trouble, Speak Up First
Trying to “handle it all” in silence during my first term was one of my worst errors. I didn’t want to come across as helpless or weak.
However, the reality is that UK universities have support networks in place, including academic advisors, services for students’ wellbeing, and even instructors who sincerely wish to assist.
Speak with your course tutor if you feel that your workload is too much. Talk to your employer about changing your hours if your work is getting in the way of your education. Since they have previously employed pupils, the majority of them comprehend.
Asking for assistance doesn’t diminish your abilities, and you’re not alone.
Preserve Your Physical and Mental Well-Being
Simultaneously working and studying might quickly exhaust you. There have been weeks when I’ve lived in survival mode, skipped exercises, hardly ate healthy meals, and didn’t phone my family back home.
Burnout is a real thing. And it silently catches up with you.
What kept me grounded was this:
- To avoid relying on junk food throughout the week, I prepared my meals on Sundays.
- stretches and quick strolls during study or work breaks.
- Go to sleep. Sleep, indeed. stronger than caffeine.
A cup that is empty cannot be used to pour. Look after yourself.
Manage Your Money Wisely to Avoid Overworking
The majority of students work because they have to, let’s face it. Don’t, however, make the mistake of working more merely to pay for pointless expenses.
Keep tabs on your spending. Establish a weekly spending plan. Make use of student discounts. Make more food. Reduce the number of Uber rides. You don’t have to put in extra hours to earn every pound you save.
Your job hours will decrease as your financial discipline increases. You have more time to study, relax, and even take a little pleasure in your time as a student.
Locate a Helpful Group
It can be lonely to study in a foreign nation. When you’re handling a lot of things by yourself, that sensation just grows worse.
Try to establish friendships with your coworkers, fellow international students, or classmates. You’ll be shocked to learn how many of them are facing similar difficulties.
Sometimes it makes a big difference to know that someone else understands. They may give you advice on jobs, provide emotional support, or even become your roommate or study partner.
Avoid isolating yourself. For most of us, community is what keeps us going.
Concluding Remarks
It’s difficult, but not impossible, for international students to juggle job and school in the UK. All you have to do is be deliberate. Make a plan in advance. Be truthful with yourself. Put the important things first. And keep your happiness intact despite the pressure.
The goal is to stay afloat, learn from the experience, and complete the task at hand – not to be flawless. You’ve already made the audacious decision to study overseas. That is no small matter. Even on the difficult days, keep taking care of yourself.
Additionally, keep in mind that this stage will pass. But the intelligence, perseverance, and discipline you acquire from it? You carry that with you forever.
